Giants activate Pablo Sandoval from disabled list

The Giants have activated third baseman Pablo Sandoval from the disabled list, the club announced Monday night. Sandoval won't be in the lineup Monday, but he's available off the bench and should be starting Tuesday.

It is the return of Panda. (Getty Images)

The Giants have activated third baseman Pablo Sandoval from the disabled list, the club announced Monday night. Sandoval won't be in the lineup Monday, but he's available off the bench and should be starting Tuesday.

Sandoval has been on the disabled list since July 24 with a hamstring injury. Earlier in the season, he missed five weeks after fracturing the hamate bone in his wrist.

Late-July trade acquisition Marco Scutaro has been handling most of the third-base duties with Sandoval out and has been hitting quite well. Still, this gives the Giants the ability to shift Scutaro to second base and use Ryan Theriot as a bench player.

Sandoval, 26, is hitting .299/.352/.491 with eight homers, 33 RBI and 36 runs in 62 games this season.

As a corresponding roster move, the Giants have optioned first baseman Brett Pill to Triple-A Fresno. With this move, that means the Giants will stick with a 13-man pitching staff, at least for Monday.  

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